Steelers re-signed RFA LCB Ross Cockrell to a 1 year, $1.797M contract

[Spike]

A March report had Cockrell drawing "plenty of" interest on the restricted free agent market. Unfortunately, the term "plenty of" has no tangible meaning, and the "plenty of" interest Cockrell allegedly drew amounted to no visits, let alone an offer sheet.

So the Steelers will be able to retain their top cornerback at the lowest possible RFA tender. Cockrell turns 26 before the season. He's been a top-25 corner in PFF's grades in consecutive years

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/9598/ross-cockrell

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Yay!

 

[slashsteel]

So Steelers have a firm hold on **** for another year.

 

[Litos]

That's a bargain even if he's not a true #1he's more than capable of holding his own. He can even improve with the experience gained as last was his second season getting serious play time

 

[BLITZ]

the gamble pays off. so if we don't get a starting caliber corner in the draft, we can sign Ross to a long term deal.

 

[Drink IRON City]

the gamble pays off. so if we don't get a starting caliber corner in the draft, we can sign Ross to a long term deal.

By LONG TERM I'm hoping you mean a 2yr deal. This would let us see this "improvement" with experience we've been hearing about. Still need to draft an upper tier CB.




Salute the nation




Salute the nation

 

[Spike]

the gamble pays off

the Steelers will be able to retain their top cornerback at the lowest possible RFA tender

not much of a gamble if nobody wants your cards - SN overvalues its precious cocks

 

[Litos]

the gamble pays off. so if we don't get a starting caliber corner in the draft, we can sign Ross to a long term deal.

By LONG TERM I'm hoping you mean a 2yr deal. This would let us see this "improvement" with experience we've been hearing about. Still need to draft an upper tier CB.




Salute the nation




Salute the nation

there's no doubt about needing to upgrade through the draft, but ross can hold the fort meanwhile, I'm more worried about Willie Gay declining

 

[Confluence]

Cockrell may be a Willie Gay sort of player: disappointing early in his career, so the Jills scrapped him, but a gamer that can help out at a position of tremendous need. Great value for the Steelers, and as Gay gets past his prime, Cockrell may be able to fill his veteran spot for the next few years. I hope that the Steelers are positioned with him to look after him if he proves his value again this season. This doesn't change the need for upgrade, but means this is a better situation heading into the draft.

 

[TMC]

He really did not have much choice. When another team signs a RFA, the tendering team gets a week (might be 5 days, but in the 5-7 day range) to match the contract or take the pick. So, the draft is next Thursday, the cutoff would be 7 days prior to the draft, or Thursday of this week. So, he signed a couple days early. With OTAs kicking off for most teams, likely did it to get in and around coaches to hopefully keep his job.

 

[SteelerSask2]

My question is can he cover in space/play slot corner. If he can why not sign him to a moderate level contract. He can't possibly be asking the world. Then if you get your cover, boundary guys in place you have a pretty damn good secondary.

 

[bermudasteel]

Cockrell may be a Willie Gay sort of player: disappointing early in his career, so the Jills scrapped him, but a gamer that can help out at a position of tremendous need. Great value for the Steelers, and as Gay gets past his prime, Cockrell may be able to fill his veteran spot for the next few years. I hope that the Steelers are positioned with him to look after him if he proves his value again this season. This doesn't change the need for upgrade, but means this is a better situation heading into the draft.

My thoughts exactly...

 

[MT~Forged]

Maybe this is the year our 3rd year rookie can play, and make it worth the wait.

 

[TMC]

I think Cockrell is a guy bridging the gap until they can get better talent in. He is fine in zone, but he gets pushed around in man coverages, he did in college, hasn't really added power to stop it in the pros. To me, he is an edge only, kind of needs that sideline for help because his change of direction isn't great.

If this defense is to become capable of handling a variety of offensive schemes, you have to have guys that can play man and zone. I don't see that in Cockrell.

 

[Hines57]

I think Cockrell is a guy bridging the gap until they can get better talent in. He is fine in zone, but he gets pushed around in man coverages, he did in college, hasn't really added power to stop it in the pros. To me, he is an edge only, kind of needs that sideline for help because his change of direction isn't great.

If this defense is to become capable of handling a variety of offensive schemes, you have to have guys that can play man and zone. I don't see that in Cockrell.

100% agree he is back for a year as a bridge to whatever comes via the draft this year. Having depth at the position is not a bad thing for us.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Without Cockrell back we were dire need to do something like the Panthers did last draft, even with him returning (glad he is by the way) we still have no depth. I'm just not drinking the kool aid that an aging Gay, china doll Golsen who can't make it past a couple preseason games, and a cut bait scrub Sensabraugh off the junk pile qualifies as "depth". Our 3-5 guys currently on the roster barely equate to 1 viable player. We better hope like hell no starters in the secondary get hurt AND we hit solid on an instant contributor in the draft or every team that faces us will simply put in the game plan of 5 WIDE *******!!!

 

[TMC]

I'm not so sure I classify the DBs behind burns as a bad group. Granted, I'm not sold on any of them being elite or even above average, but they have some potential to be solid role players. Coty Sensabaugh was drafted by the Titans in the 4th round, started early (3 games as a rookie). In his final season, he started 15 games, but he was mainly a slot corner, not an edge guy. When he hit free agency, he was signed by the Rams and they slipped him outside. The Rams had Lamarcus Joyner as their slot corner and he was playing pretty damn well. Trumaine Johnson was one outside corner. Sensabaugh lost his job to EJ Gaines. Gaines has played decent for them, started 15 games that season and had 2 INTs. He missed all of 2015 with a Lisfranc injury, but has come back to start 10 games since then. I just think they asked Sensabaugh to do something he wasn't ready to do, which is be a starting corner on the edge. Keep him inside and you might have something.

I would also keep an eye on Greg Ducre. He had a long climb from Washington to the NFL. He was raw as hell coming out and needs coaching, but he has all the physical gifts you want. He started for the Chargers when they had some injuries, also dressed for Washington. He plays special teams as well.

So, if you draft a potential edge corner, then you have Burns/rookie/Cockrell and either Sensabaugh/Gay/Ducre/Shabazz/Golson/2nd rookie to round out that group. That is giving you better quality at the top and depth with several potential slot guys. It is a long way from us trotting out Blake as a starter.

 

[Litos]

yeap, Sensabaugh will fight that spot with incumbent Gay while Golson has to show that he can at least be healthy but I think he won't make the roster unless injuries bump him up

 

[Fiji Mariner]

To me Shabazz is just a body fighting for a ps position, anything more would be a very unexpected bonus. I've already got Golsen slated for IR or cut/injury settlement which leaves us as you stated TMC not starting Blake (whew!) but still dangerously average at best.

Really don't know much about Ducre, thanks for the knowledge TMC. I really hope we can coach him up as the Gay/Sensabaugh combo scares the crap out of me, if we lose a starting CB it could get ugly quick. But get ugly quick is still better than starting Blake, so I guess the glass is half full...being a spoiled Steeler fan I just need a full pint glass every now and then haha.

 

[TMC]

I think Sensabaugh has a chance to be better than many here expect. Remember, he played for LeBeau and Ray Horton in Tennessee. When he sat with Butler before signing, he said he reconized lotof the concepts, just different terminology, so expect him to seat in fast. He is 5112, 189 pounds (combine) and ran a 4.42 forty with a 4.06 shuttle. Excellent numbers for a slot corner. So, he could/should give meaningful snaps in the slot, even if he is your 4th corner, with the advent of spread offenses in the NFL, you need 2 interior corners. He can play outside in a pinch, but I'd rather not. Even if Golson doesn't return and Gay's best football is behind him, Sensabaugh can be your starting slot corner. I think that is his best role. I also think that is the best spot for Ducre, but he might need more time. What keeping Cockrell and adding Sensabaugh does it open up the areas you can draft. You are not forced to spend your first on a corner. You are not forcing a slot pick. But, if you have a talented guy fall in your lap, they are not so great you cannot replace them.

It just opens up the draft.

 

[Coach]

So Steelers have a firm hold on **** for another year.

What good is a firm hold when **** is deployed in a frictionless and deflated zone?

 

[Coach]

I think Sensabaugh has a chance to be better than many here expect. Remember, he played for LeBeau and Ray Horton in Tennessee. When he sat with Butler before signing, he said he reconized lotof the concepts, just different terminology, so expect him to seat in fast. He is 5112, 189 pounds (combine) and ran a 4.42 forty with a 4.06 shuttle. Excellent numbers for a slot corner. So, he could/should give meaningful snaps in the slot, even if he is your 4th corner, with the advent of spread offenses in the NFL, you need 2 interior corners. He can play outside in a pinch, but I'd rather not. Even if Golson doesn't return and Gay's best football is behind him, Sensabaugh can be your starting slot corner. I think that is his best role. I also think that is the best spot for Ducre, but he might need more time. What keeping Cockrell and adding Sensabaugh does it open up the areas you can draft. You are not forced to spend your first on a corner. You are not forcing a slot pick. But, if you have a talented guy fall in your lap, they are not so great you cannot replace them.

It just opens up the draft.

I get the feeling Sensabaugh needs to beat out either Golson or Shabazz to make the team IF we draft a corner in the first three rounds.

Projected depth chart barring injury or suspension:

Burns
Cockerel
Gay
*Draft pick

Other two corners between Golson, Sensabaugh, and Shabazz.

I think the Steelers should draft two corners in the 2017 draft.